Prayer Alert News: UK, Europe, and Worldwide

All mighty spiritual revivals have had their roots in prayer. Years ago a missionary revivalist reported that in England he talked to a lady about the revival in China. She gave him certain dates when God specially pressed her to pray. He was startled to find that they were the very dates when God was doing his mightiest work in Manchuria and China. The day will come when the history of revival will be unveiled and show that it was brought about mainly by God’s saints hidden away with Him in prayer. There will be an international prayer day for the unreached peoples of the world on 20 May. Will you pray? To find out more, go to

Praise: God for united prayer, renewed vision and outreach, and the cry for ‘More Lord’. (2 Samuel 5:10)
More: www.ipcprayer.org/ipc-connections/item/10539-prayer-as-a-strategic-resource-in-missions-part-4.html

Conflict over land used by herdsmen and farmers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is sending thousands into Uganda. Wycliffe Associates in Uganda invited members of DRC people groups to learn Bible translation for their individual tribal dialect. People attending the workshops found that their neighbouring enemies were at the same workshop at the same time – then the Holy Spirit went to work, as they were being equipped to steward God’s Word for their people. The power of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit bring reconciliation. Many DRC tribal groups function without any written language: about 242 languages are spoken. Translators use translation recorders in French, the majority language, and then record the same portion of scripture in their dialect to share with their communities. Pastor David Platt said the greatest social injustice today is the 2 billion people who have never heard of God’s redeeming love. Bible translation is addressing that injustice.

Praise: God for the success of this process of translation and reconciliation. (Psalm 147:13)
More: www.mnnonline.org/news/conflict-in-the-drc-brings-opportunity-for-the-gospel-through-wycliffe-associates/

Thy Kingdom Come 2018 will see thousands around the world, praying for friends, neighbours, colleagues and workmates to come to know Jesus Christ. Churches, chaplaincies, prayer houses, 24/7 prayer rooms and schools are using a range of fresh ideas from the Thy Kingdom Come website. It also has ideas for retreats, special events, booklets, posters, bands etc. to be used throughout the ten day event, plus inspirational videos and blogs on topics including how to pray for others, how to get started in prayer, and encouraging others in prayer. Pray for many more individuals and groups to be involved this year. Pray for the planning of events across the UK and farther afield. Pray for all the preparation that will take place after the planning. Most of all pray that millions will do whatever they hear God telling them to do.

Pray: for what appears to be impossible to be made possible supernaturally by God. (Matthew 19:26).
More: www.thykingdomcome.global/search/resources?tags=4

The Financial times recently asked what Sajid Javid’s becoming home secretary means for Brexit. Some suggest that his appointment on Monday, Tuesday’s Lords vote preventing a ‘no deal walk away’, and Wednesday’s customs union defeat (see next article) create additional challenges for our Prime Minister and her government at this strategic time. Pray for God to strengthen, clarify and bless every communication, written and spoken, between London, Ireland and Europe. May confusion in departments be replaced with precise fact finding, mistrust replaced with confident expectations, turmoil replaced with peace, and God to strengthen all who are weary from heavy workloads. Ask God to exchange blame strategies for honest appraisal where it’s due and inaccuracies for wise revisions, and inject integrity into current circumstances.

Pray: for God’s protection over immigration, security, policing, fire and rescue, and MI5; and all Brexit transitions, negotiations and European affairs. (James 3:16, 17)
More: http://www.prayer-alert.net/articles/british-isles-ireland/itemlist/tag/Brexit

A crisis Cabinet meeting failed to back Theresa May’s plan for a ‘customs partnership’ with Brussels. Key Brexit sub-committee members tried to thrash out a model for the UK’s future trade links with Brussels in two hours of tense discussions that ended in deadlock. Insiders said that Sajid Javid had been instrumental in rejecting her plan. Mrs May ordered ministers and officials to carry out ‘further work’ on two options and return with revised proposals at a later date. Whitehall sources reported that six ministers oppose her option and want a looser customs arrangement with Brussels. Boris Johnson urged Mrs May to stick to the principles of her keynote speech at the Mansion House earlier this year which clearly stated that Britain would not form any customs union with the EU after Brexit. International trade secretary Liam Fox said the customs partnership was ‘not compatible’ with Brexit.

Pray: for God to direct MPs’ planning and progress towards Brexit solutions. (Proverbs 18:4)
More: www.express.co.uk/news/politics/954427/brexit-news-eu-uk-theresa-may-eu-customs-union

In 2015 the Government refused the appeal of the Anjuman-E-Islahul-Mislimeen Trust against Newham Council’s decision to refuse them planning permission for the development of the largest place of worship in Britain. The court of appeal refused to permit a ‘statutory review’ of that decision, then refused Islamist Tablighi Jammat’s (TJ) last-ditch legal attempt to overturn the injunction against them. By rights TJ should put in a new planning application for mixed use, remove the temporary mosque, and stop using the site as a place of worship. However, TJ are going to the European court of human rights (ECHR) to try to keep alive their dream of a mega-mosque in West Ham. On Saturday 5 May Christians will attend an open-air prayer meeting overlooking the proposed site.

Pray: for TJ to fail at the ECHR, and for a church to be built on the site instead. (Proverbs 11:2,3)
More: www.christianvoice.org.uk/index.php/open-air-prayer-at-west-ham/

Ashers Bakery in Northern Ireland, which was found to have discriminated by refusing to make a ‘gay cake’, had their appeal heard by the supreme court on 1 and 2 May. They challenged the 2014 ruling over their decision not to make a cake iced with the slogan ‘Support Gay Marriage’. Appeal court judges upheld the original decision in 2016. The Christian owners of the bakery argued, ‘We didn’t say no because of the customer; we’d served him before, we’d serve him again. It was because of the message. But some people want the law to make us support something with which we disagree.’ Their QC David Scoffield said, ‘They have been penalised by the state for failing to create and provide a product bearing an explicit slogan “Support Gay Marriage”, to which they had an objection of conscience.’

Pray: for God to strengthen the bakery and its general manager Daniel McArthur. (Hebrews 12:12,13a)
More: www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2018/05/01/news/supreme-court-in-belfast-hears-ashers-bakery-punished-in-gay-cake-case-1318347/

School leaders gathered in Liverpool for their union’s annual conference and voted to support a motion calling for more male teachers in early years education (currently men only make up 3% of the workforce). They agreed that it is important for all children to experience positive male role models, and understand that men can be interested in education, science or reading, just as much as in football. A diverse early years workforce can help children, especially those from deprived backgrounds, to visualise their futures and fulfil their educational potential. The shortfall is partly due to the perceived lack of status and importance this phase of education can have, and the subsequent lower pay such roles can attract.

Pray: for the development of attractive training placements for men. (Proverbs 22:6)
More: www.naht.org.uk/news-and-opinion/press-room/school-leaders-call-for-more-male-role-models-in-early-years/

On Saturday 12 May there will be the first ever ‘Pray for Justice’ event at St. Mark’s Battersea Rise, London. Intercessors from across the UK are being invited to be at the start of a pioneering move of prayer to end slavery. Delegates will go behind the scenes in the International Justice Mission (IJM) immersive prayer rooms, and an undercover investigator will guide people through the scene of a crime, showing them firsthand why IJM do what they do and why it is so vital that people pray to stop crimes like these from happening. They will hear about some of the most unjust situations on this earth, reflect on God’s goodness when freedom and justice are restored, and contemplate his word and heart for justice in the new Lectio Divina prayer room. Pray for Justice is more than a prayer gathering: it is an entire community of game-changers across the UK praying for an end to slavery.

Pray: for IJM success and for the growth of prayer and advocacy for those in bondage. (Pr. 21:15)
More: www.ijmuk.org/london

At the time of writing Brexit talks are continuing between the EU and British officials. Time is limited to solve the Irish border issue, with just four more rounds of meetings scheduled before the summit. Pray for David Davis and Olly Robbins leading the negotiations for the UK and Sabine Weyand, Michel Barnier’s deputy, negotiating for the EU. Brussels wants the whole withdrawal agreement, including citizens’ rights, the financial settlement, transition period, and Northern Ireland border to be agreed by the October meeting of the European Council, so that they can be scrutinised and approved by the European parliament. DUP leader Arlene Foster accused Mr Barnier of not understanding the Unionist position on the border.

Pray: for British diplomats in Brussels to find a God-given border solution. (Joshua 3:5)
More: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-talks-latest-eu-deal-irish-border-northern-ireland-a8331186.html

Two French pilots were not content with doing nothing about the annual tragedy of hundreds perishing in the Mediterranean trying to reach Europe in small makeshift boats. José Benavente and Benoît Micolon invested all their €130,000 savings to buy a light plane and establish the non-profit organisation Pilotes Volontaires to provide aerial observation support to the non-governmental organisations carrying out rescue operations in a part of the Mediterranean where over 3,000 people die each year. Based in Malta, they will be attached to a rescue plan already in place and coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Rome, and be in strict contact with all organisations in the area.

Pray: for God’s mercy and protection on refugees and those initiating their rescue and welfare. (Matthew 9:36)
More: www.euronews.com/2018/05/03/volunteer-pilots-ready-for-take-off-to-help-save-migrants-in-the-med

Pakistan came into being in the name of the religion of Islam. Islamisation is integral to government policy. Constitution, laws and policies restrict religious freedom and the government enforces these restrictions. Acts of violence and intimidation against religious minorities by extremists increases and exacerbates existing religious tensions. Extremists in some areas demand that all citizens follow strict versions of Islam, with brutal consequences if they don’t abide by it. Society is deeply opposed to amending the blasphemy laws and some religious leaders use incendiary rhetoric to convince much of the population that any attempt to amend the laws is an attack on the sanctity of Islam. In the name of religion people are silenced by the military, civil bureaucracy, and Jihadists. Issues involving the blasphemy law generate extremist responses. Aasia Bibi, a Christian woman, was sentenced to death in 2010 for blasphemy. Her lawyer says international support is encouraging, but he is not hopeful for clemency. See

Pray: for legislation to eliminate the misuse of blasphemy laws. (Isaiah 59:1)
More: www.thevoicetimes.com/religious-intolerance-pakistan/

Brunei is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo in southeast Asia. Apart from its South China Sea coastline, the country is completely surrounded by Malaysia. In 2014 the government announced the phased introduction of a penal code based on Sharia law, which will eventually include hudud penalties such as amputation and death by stoning and potentially the death penalty for apostasy. It is about to implement the next stage of this process. The Islamic Religious Council and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah signed off the measure on 10 March. Implementation was delayed, but now appears to be going ahead, despite international pressure and criticism from Brunei citizens on social media. Christians comprise around ten percent of the population of the oil-rich state, where there are already tight restrictions on teaching Christianity. Pray for protection, spiritual maturity, and Biblical training for those leading the underground Church.

Pray: for the salvation of the royal family. May they lead the nation to righteousness. (Psalm 67:2)
More: www.globalchristiannews.org/article/brunei-government-signs-off-on-next-stage-of-sharia/

Prime minister Serzh Sargsyan was forced to step down after weeks of mass demonstrations. Many hoped he would be replaced by a more honest and honourable man, Nikol Pashinyan. On 2 May 96% of Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, came to a standstill as thousands blocked roads when parliament refused to elect Mr Pashinyan as the new prime minister. They blocked roads to the airport, and roads to government buildings. Protests are expected to continue; even government employees have joined the protest movement called the ‘velvet revolution’.

Pray: for the peaceful demonstrations to bring about change and honest elections. (Proverbs 19:9)
More: edition.cnn.com/2018/05/02/europe/armenia-protests-strikes-nikol-pashinyan-intl/index.html

In Ontario Paul is in the civic centre and his wife is on a dialysis machine in a small motel room. They have been separated from their First Nations community since sewers froze two months ago. He said, ‘We’re forgotten people.’ Anti-indigenous racism is still widespread in Canada. Last month Ontario’s chief human rights commissioner said racism against indigenous people in Timmins is pervasive and normalised. People are scrutinised in stores, hassled when using status cards, called ‘dirty Indians’ and yelled at by motorists to go back to their reserves. If their name sounds First Nations or they look like one, it impacts their ability to get housing. In British Columbia First Nations officials have spoken out for years against a trans-mountain pipeline that will cross their territory without their even being consulted. On 16 April President Trudeau said work will go ahead, regardless of their objections. See:

Pray: for God’s channels of communication across all provinces to address racism. (Proverbs 19:21)
More: globalnews.ca/news/4080166/anti-indigenous-racism-timmins/

Many lives are being lost in car crimes and road accidents. Road deaths are a national crisis, with 134,000+ killed over 10 years. Vehicle crime hotspots are Johannesburg, Tshwane, Cape Town, and Durban. Cars are hijacked to commit another crime, or exported into neighbouring countries. In spite of 18,900+ police deployed countrywide over Easter to keep road users safe and a road safety campaign, 510 people died between 29 March and 9 April. A motoring magazine reported: ‘South Africans have bad attitudes towards safe road use; education and enforcement will not stop them playing by their own rules. Without a change of attitude among road users and respect for the law, efforts to decrease fatalities and crashes by a noticeable margin will fall flat.’ See

Pray: for transport minister Mr Nzimande, police, and all involved in community safety. (Psalm 4:8)
More: www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/easter-road-death-toll-up-by-14-from-last-year-20180417

In India, a dust storm affecting three districts in Rajasthan state and Uttar Pradesh has killed 111 and injured hundreds more, with numbers still rising and more storms forecast. Electricity is disrupted, hundreds of trees uprooted, hundreds of houses damaged or destroyed, and livestock killed. Many of the dead were sleeping when their houses collapsed after being struck by intense bursts of lightning. Dust storms are common in this part of India during summer, but loss of life on this scale is rare. Pray for hospitals and emergency services without electricity. In Kenya, over 100 people died and 200,000+ have been displaced by four weeks of floods, landslides and heavy rains. The Red Cross described it as a humanitarian disaster. Severe weather hit central USA on 2 and 3 May, with unusually violent thunderstorms, tornadoes and tennis-ball-sized hailstones taking down trees and power lines. See

Pray: for God to be the rock of strength to all who have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods. Pray for strength for those delivering aid and repairing infrastructure damage. (Psalm 18:2)
More: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-43987209

During Ramadan (15 May to 14 June), 1.8 billion Muslims across the nations will be seeking Allah through prayer and fasting. Christian intercessors are being invited to join the ‘Ramadan Challenge’ and strategically pray every day for 31 days for them to have powerful encounters with Jesus as Saviour. Prayercast have provided a video with a featured topic each day to aid intercession and opportunities to sign up to receive daily reminders: see Also a booklet, 30 Days of Prayer, can be downloaded; it has prayers and information to help people understand the Muslim world, the month of Ramadan, and how to pray more effectively. See  Click the ‘More’ button for the stories of five Muslim men from five different countries who all saw Jesus Christ in a dream or a vision and their lives changed for ever.

Pray: for prayers of faith and love to bring millions to saving encounters with Jesus. (Matthew 19:29)
More: morethandreams.org/ar